California bus driver killed after shift leaves behind wife, two young sons

A California bus driver shot dead after his shift was a young father of two young boys who “loved being a father,” according to his grieving family.

Bruce Rodriquez, 42, and his wife, Sandy, had a 3-year-old son who he was already teaching to play baseball and a 6-month-old baby boy, according to a GoFundMe set up to support the family.

Rodriguez was the primary breadwinner of the household and also helped care for his elderly parents, who shared the family home.

“The love Bruce gave to both boys will stay with them for a lifetime,” his family wrote.

He and Sandy were newlyweds building a life together when his death abruptly changed everything they had planned.

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Rodriguez, a longtime Culver CityBus driver, was shot shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday near Centinela and Mitchell avenues along the Culver City-Los Angeles border, police said. The 12-year veteran had just finished his shift when the confrontation turned deadly.

LAPD Captain Eric Eppolito told NBC LA that the passenger was intoxicated and the altercation was apparently unintentional. Rodriguez was rushed to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Police arrested Jose Zayas, 55, Friday afternoon in connection with the murder. Zayas was arrested at 2:07 p.m. in the 3600 block of Motor Avenue and booked into a local jail on suspicion of murder. His bail was set at $3 million.

“The FBI’s Violent Crime Apprehension Task Force assisted the West Bureau Homicide in locating and arresting a suspect in the brutal murder of a Culver City bus driver,” the LAPD’s Gang and Narcotics Division announced Friday evening, according to KTLA.

The arrest came after police initially said the suspect fled the scene on foot or on a bicycle. No weapons were found at the scene, according to police.

His family remembered Rodriguez as a warm, easy-going man, someone who could get along with anyone and loved to make people laugh.

Her sister-in-law Kathy Sanchez also said KTLA Rodriguez was known for handing out Hot Wheels cars to young passengers.

“His priority was always to ensure the safety of his passengers. That was his priority,” Sanchez said. “He knew how to de-escalate a situation…keep people safe.” »

Culver CityBus suspended service through the weekend to allow employees to grieve.

The fundraiser had raised more than $96,000 as of Saturday evening to help cover funeral costs and support Sandy, their two young sons and Rodriguez’s parents.